Wenger wins Cup switch battle

Arsene Wenger today won his battle to have Arsenal's FA Cup quarter-final clash with Newcastle rescheduled from Sunday 10 March to the night before.

In a move which will attract criticism from the anti-football lobby, BBC1 will move family peak-time shows to accommodate a 5.35pm kick-off.

Although there was always the possibility the FA Cup quarter-finals could interfere with the Champions League fixtures two days later, the Football Association announced with great fanfare earlier this season plans to show all four quarter-finals on what it referred to as "Super Sunday".

As the tie of the round, the BBC and FA wanted to show the game at 7pm that night but met fierce protests from Arsenal who have a Champions League match against Deportivo La Coruna on Tuesday 12 March.

Earlier today Wenger put pressure on the FA to change its plans. Within a few hours the FA and BBC backed his demands and switched the tie.

The FA also announced that Tottenham's game with Chelsea will kick off at 4pm on Sunday 10 March while Middlesbrough against Everton or Crewe will take place at 1pm that day. But the kick off for Fulham's trip to West Bromwich Albion has not yet been confirmed.

FA spokesman Paul Newman said: "The kick-off times and dates follow consultation with all the clubs, police and the television companies. We had discussions with Arsenal and are clearly aware of their fixture requirements."

A spokeswoman for the BBC said: "We are delighted to be able to meet Arsenal's needs so both tournaments get the best of them.

"We are committed to the FA Cup and bringing it back to maximum audiences. Sometimes with top teams facing so many fixtures you have to do things like this."

Wenger demanded the switch today as the team arrived in Germany for their Group D Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen tomorrow. He said: "Clearly we did not want to be playing on the Sunday with a Champions League game just 48 hours later.

"It's in the interests of the FA for English clubs to do well in Europe and moving the Cup tie back will help us." The team flew out with further controversy surrounding Patrick Vieira.

The midfielder is in the spotlight over another alleged elbowing incident, this time on Gillingham's Iffy Onuora during Arsenal's fifth-round win on Saturday.

Wenger brushed aside suggestions-that Vieira could face a six-match ban as he is already up on an FA charge after a similar incident involving Chelsea's Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

Vieira's FA hearing is on 14 March. Referee Andy D'Urso was close to the incident on Saturday but took no action against Vieira.

As a result his report will not mention the clash.

However, a referee can contact the FA's disciplinary department the day after a game to raise an issue he may have missed but which was later spotted when he reviewed a video of the match.

Yet D'Urso made no such contact yesterday and it is highly unlikely the incident will be reviewed by the video panel. Wenger also dismissed weekend reports of a £50million world-record move for Juventus striker David Trezeguet as "pure fantasy". He added: "Can you imagine me spending £50m on one player?"

And Trezeguet said: "In my opinion, I would like to stay at Juve, I feel great."